Outstanding Pure DSD256 Downloads with some DXD thrown in...

Thanks for joining the conversation, Al M.

Do you happen to know where this might be found in a high resolution download?

Sorry, I could only find 16/44:


It doesn't matter. On good digital playback the resolution and refinement of vocal textures are outstanding.
 
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Sorry, I could only find 16/44:


It doesn't matter. On good digital playback the resolution and refinement of vocal textures are outstanding.
Thanks for checking, Al M. Good recordings are great to find in any format!
 
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Ah, thank you, thank you. I am downloading the DXD file of Bluebeard's Castle from NativeDSD now. I received a preview download link for this album from Pentatone about 6-weeks ahead of the release date, and the highest resolution for preview was 192kHz. Apparently I failed to recheck at NativeDSD on the release date since I had the review already queued up. I will have to be more careful about checking in the future.
I suppose, Rushton, that the (original) dxd / 24 bit file sounds superior to the 192kHz file you reviewed in the past?
 
PSA: HDTT has started a sale, Buy 3 and get the 4th for free, to celebrate their 19th Anniversary. If you've enjoyed some of the great releases from HDTT, now is a good time to tick some more off your list. If you'd like some suggestions, you might peruse my list of Pure DSD256 albums transferred from analog tape, a great many of which come from HDTT. Of course, that Pure DSD256 list does not include any of their excellent releases that needed a bit of post-processing in PCM.

Pure DSD256 from Analog Tape: My Top of the Pile

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Released today by Hunnia Records, this album was inspired by Duo Sera’s early concert series where Renaissance songs and contemporary works were performed side by side, creating dialogues between past and present. During the concerts the short songs by John Dowland functioned as transitions – musical “neutral zones” that helped audiences engage more easily with the contemporary pieces. An interesting recital and an excellent recording. Utterly transparent, with extreme detail, and very natural sound of the acoustic instruments and percussion items used by the artists. It is a nice window onto unique segment of Hungarian contemporary music. If you are anything like me, you may love the experimental nature of many of these contemporary compositions.

But, be aware, this is contemporary classical music. It may even be described as experimental. And it may stretch your comfort zone. NativeDSD provides full length audition tracks in 44.1kHz 16bit resolution, so check the audition tracks out to see if you might enjoy the music. But don't rely on them to tell you about the superb sound quality to be heard in the Pure DSD256 edition! Available HERE
 
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This afternoon I dowloaded the album of the week on the Nativedsd website:


In dxd / 32 bit (the original recording format) this is a mighty impressive sounding organ recording. And I really mean mighty impressive! If you wanna test the bass / low end capabilities of your audio set up, look no further. But also otherwise this is a really great recording.
 
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In dxd / 32 bit (the original recording format) this is a mighty impressive sounding organ recording. And I really mean mighty impressive! If you wanna test the bass / low end capabilities of your audio set up, look no further. But also otherwise this is a really great recording.

Yes, yes, yes. This is a very impressive album. Even more so in its DXD 32-bit edit master iteration to which you refer. Jake Purches has been making some very impressive organ recordings for his Base2 Music label. This album, Voyage, has some of the most musically interesting selections for my preferences, but all of his albums are very good. And, hearing this great Cavaille-Coll organ is a life experience not to be missed. For multi-channel fans, this is also available in 5.1 MCh as well as Stereo.

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This is among my Top of the Pile Pure DSD256 recordings, but more important is the music! Not highlighted on the cover (but named) is composer/pianist/vocalist Clarice Assad. Yarlung has now released two of her compositions from this album in a 45rpm album reviewed enthusiastically this week at Positive Feedback (HERE) and cut from the analog tape of this recording session. And if you are a vinyl fan, that’s what you should go get. But if you enjoy excellent high resolution digital, get this Pure DSD256 release recorded in parallel at the same sessions with all the music from that performance. You can see my review of the Pure DSD256 release HERE.

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This morning's listening, a flat transfer in DSD256 from a 15ips analog tape of the Bill Evans Trio's Waltz for Debby:

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Bill Evans Trio, Waltz for Debby. HDTT 1961, 2022 My review HERE

It would be great to know the exact provenience of the tape and the system (tape machine and digital system) used in this transcription.

The details in the HTT site are almost zero, and unfortunately we can only download a 94/24 sample - I would be happier to get the album if I could compare a sample in 96/24 and DSD 256 before ordering.
 
It would be great to know the exact provenience of the tape and the system (tape machine and digital system) used in this transcription.

The details in the HTT site are almost zero, and unfortunately we can only download a 94/24 sample - I would be happier to get the album if I could compare a sample in 96/24 and DSD 256 before ordering.
Hmmm, this particular album is an anomaly on the HDDT website. Normally Bob Witrak provides much more information. I will have to ask him if he will expand on this as he does with most of his other releases. Thanks for pointing this out!

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Later edit: From Bob Witrak regarding the source tape and equipment used in the Waltz for Debby reissue:

Sourced from a 15ips 2-track tape
Analog: Transferred using a modified Studer 810 tape deck with Flux Heads feeding a Merrill Tape Preamp
Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by an Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock
Software: Merging Pyramix
Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for all components
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Most HDTT reissues contain a lot more information, like this 2025 Pure DSD256 reissue of Jazz Giants '58:

Recording Info: Recorded on August 1, 1957, in Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Producer Norman Granz
Sourced from a 15ips 2-track tape
Components used for Transfer: Analog: Transport - Otari 5050 modified with Flux Heads
Preamp - Custom Tape Pre-amp designed by Victor Khomenko of Balanced Audio Technology
Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by an Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock
Software: Merging Pyramix v15
Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for all components
All components are grounded to Shunyata ALTAIRA Hubs
Cables: Shunyata & Purist Audio
This is a Monophonic Recording
 
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Although I am a classical music lover I now and then listen to other music genres as well. From my childhood I inherited a fondness for great guitar players (my ‘heroes’ back then were inter alia Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore and Eddie van Halen). The next link is of another fine guitarist - Fausto Mesolella - who was ‘served’ with a great recording in dsd 64 by the record label Fone:

 
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Hmmm, this particular album is an anomaly on the HDDT website. Normally Bob Witrak provides much more information. I will have to ask him if he will expand on this as he does with most of his other releases.
Bob got back to me quickly with the following reply about the Waltz for Debby source tape and equipment used in making the transfer. He says:

Sourced from a 15ips 2-track tape
Analog: Transferred using a modified Studer 810 tape deck with Flux Heads feeding a Merrill Tape Preamp
Digital: Merging Hapi Analog to Digital Converter clocked by an Antelope Audio 10MX Atomic Clock
Software: Merging Pyramix
Power Conditioning: Shunyata Research Everest 8000 for all components

This has been his standard setup for the past several years. Now he additionally has a vacuum tube tape preamp designed by Victor Khomenko for tapes where that additional vacuum tube magic might make a nicer transfer.
 
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Bob got back to me quickly with the following reply about the Waltz for Debby source tape and equipment used in making the transfer.
Please, can you ask Bob why only 7 HDTT records are available at Nativedsd.com?
Thanks :)
 
He and I have spoken about this. At one time he had all of Jonathan Horwich's IPI tapes listed there, with Jonathan's permission, in addition to the 7 non-IPI albums listed today. Then, when Jonathan retired, Jonathon withdrew all of his albums everywhere. Bob finally convinced him to return the IPI albums to the HDTT website (Big YAY!), and will be checking in to see if Jonathan will also agree to reposting them on the NativeDSD website. Beyond that, I think the question for Bob is pure business economics. Will he sell enough more material by offering them additionally at the NativeDSD to offset revenue loss from his HDTT site, because there will be some siphoning of sales. I don't think he's decided on this. Certainly he is not philosophically opposed to expanding his distribution. And NativeDSD is the logical partner for that.

So, are you likely to purchase more HDTT product if it is also available from NativeDSD? Would having those files available in DSD512 from NativeDSD make a difference to you?

If I get multiple responses, I'll share this with Bob.
 
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So, are you likely to purchase more HDTT product if it is also available from NativeDSD? Would having those files available in DSD512 from NativeDSD make a difference to you?
What I really like on Nativedsd.com is that you can listen to the tracks in 16/44.1 before buying.
AFAIK, this is not possible on HDTT, this makes a difference to me :cool:
 

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